Thanks for the information. I find the Magix website to be overflowing with good information. I hadn't learned of Video Pro X before I followed a link on the site and was curious as to how the two programs complement each other.

They both have some unique features that each other doesn't have.

One main of difference is Video Pro X having upside down 'stack' of timeline.

While Vegas Pro is more 'generic' where 'upper layer' is on 'upper position'. Video Pro X's 'upper layer' is on 'bottom position'

So be ready with this one.

Another major difference for some Vegas Pro users is the lack of Scripting in Video Pro X.

Each program has things that are not in the other or that is done better or differently; each having strengths and weaknesses. I can give you a few of the things that VPX does that may not be in Vegas or are done differently, along with a few similar features.

Tracks in VPX

Upside down? That is relative to what you are used to. In VPX (Video Pro X), track 1 is usually the background and it stays there; no inserting tracks above to put something on top of it, like a title. You simply put it on a higher numbered track. 1 is the bottom layer and it stays as 1, 2 is a higher layer, 3 is even higher, etc. Track 1 stays at the top of the screen, like numbering a list on a piece of paper. For those not used to this, it takes some getting used to, but the logic is there as your background never changes track numbers unless you want to move it. In Vegas, well, you know how it works as your background on track 1 goes to track 2 if you insert a title or PiP, and then keeps dropping down to another track number as you have to insert more layers. Your background layer disappears off the bottom of the screen.

In VPX, a track is a track, there is no audio track or video track, so you should manage your tracks to keep audio on separate tracks, but it is not necessary.

In VPX, tracks are just there on the screen, usually 32 by default, add as needed.

Windows (resizable and movable)

You almost always stay with the main setup, Preview Window, Source Monitor, Project Temp Folder, and Media Pool with tabbed pages for Import, Effects, Templates, Audio (purchased from Magix Store) and Store.

The Source window doubles to show measuring instruments (histogram, vectorscope, waveform and RGB parade).

Multiple Timelines and Nesting

VPX has multiple timelines - aka multiple movies - as tabbed pages. You can add the second timelines as nested loops to another movie. You can quickly go to the original and make changes.

Effects

VPX has an Effects tab in the Media Pool and the effect that you want opens in that window when selected. Applied effects are listed in the keyframe area at the bottom of the window. I guess an image would be good here. Effects cannot be repositioned in the list (this was a topic of discussion in this forum).

Motion Tracking or Size/Position

VPX has automated motion track for having an overlay follow something in the action. Unfortunately, the trail is not shown graphically on the preview monitor. However, the track can be adjusted.

For animating overlays, like PiP or sizing and positioning PiP or some other image object, VPX has a Size/Position effect window with boxes and sliders for height, width, left and right position, and zoom (which affects the above). There is a keyframe area for each and coloured bézier curves that can be turned on for the effect that shows on the event (called objects in VPX). When an event is selected, it gets a dashed line around it with handles allowing you to move and resize the event, so you can simply drag and resize the event on the screen.

Coloured Tracks and Objects (Events)

In VPX, you can assign different colours to tracks and objects, and name the tracks. Track numbers don't change.

Save and Load Effects

There is no scripting, but effects, including titles and transitions, can be saved and loaded. These can be quite complex. For example, I have some that do complex collages of photos with effects, like a 24 image collage that has transition effects like page turning. Just put 24 photos on the timeline, select the effect, and it goes to work.

Titles

There is only one title interface. Vegas has more than one (old and new?) I believe.

VPX comes with 3D Maker for making and animating 3D titles, and a load of templates.

Creating static and animated overlays

VPX can go directly to the animation part of Xara Designer Pro X or Xara Photo & Graphics Designer (if installed) to allow you to draw masks or other objects or text, animate them (change shape and size, colour, texture, opacity) and do rotoscoping. The result comes back onto the timeline, double-clicking will reopen the object in Xara (there is a bug here).

External Photo Editor

VPX comes with Photo Designer 7; this can be changed to something else. I use PaintShop Pro. The photo on the timeline is opened in the external editor and updated on the timeline once done.

Audio

VPX comes with extensive audio editing capabilities, including some built-in audio cleaning tools, an external audio editor (Music Editor 3 or use another Magix audio editor like Samplitude or SFAS or SF Audio Cleaning Lab - Sound Forge Pro does not work for some reason), audio effects for tracks and audio objects, VST2 (64 bits only) audio effects capability for tracks only, not events, unfortunately, and both track and audio object animation (Vegas does not have event automation IIRC). There is a mixer that includes faders, track animation, audio effects (Magix and VST2), and to FX tracks using with audio sends from other tracks. There is a master strip and mastering effects.

You can Normalize to maximum level or EBU R128. I have trouble understanding how normalization works in Vegas as it's a switch. In VPX you normalize, the volume is adjusted, and then you can adjust the volume on the object if you want.

MultiCam

I haven't tried this in Vegas so I don't know how it works. VPX can handle up to 9 cameras. The events are placed on the normal timeline starting with track 3 and get muted and the video is turned off except for the images of each track in the source monitor as soon as multicam mode is selected. The events can be synchronized using the audio automatically. A master audio track is selected and it will end up on track 2. The video selected from each camera during playback goes on track 1. You can go back and run any part of it again and use the camera windows to make changes. Of course, you can edit everything that is on track 1 by turning off multicam mode and editing normally. The other tracks remain turned off and the video/audio objects deleted from the timeline when no longer needed.

Proprietary Video Format

VPX can render to a Magix proprietary format, mxv, that can be opened in VPX, of course, and in some other Magix products like Samplitude and Music Maker (with the exception of the current Music Maker 2021 - bug). This format runs smoother than other formats, and I often use it as an intermediary in VPX.

MTC (MIDI Time Code)

VPX has MTC capability allowing it to be linked to Samplitude in master/slave or slave/master relationship using LoopBe1 for simultaneously and synchronized editing of each program.

Project Temp Folder

This is like a bin but is much more extensive. I can give more details if anyone wants to see this.

Miscellaneous Wizards

• Slideshow Wizard
• Song Maker Wizard
• Travel Route Animation, now called Travel Maps
• BPM Wizard

There is much more, but this should give you a bit of an idea as to some of the differences and features of VPX.